June 3, 200422 yr Dolphins' Seau uses gay slur in banquet remarks By Alex Marvez and Ethan J. Skolnick Sun-Sentinel Posted June 3 2004 DAVIE ? Dolphins linebacker Junior Seau used a slur toward homosexuals during a speech Wednesday night at the team's kickoff banquet at the Signature Grand. While accepting the team's leadership award, as voted by Dolphins players, Seau used the slur when describing the camaraderie between him and his teammates. "This is a great group of guys we have on this team," Seau said. "You have to understand. In that locker room, there is no color barrier. We do not have a color barrier. We are a unit that cares. The reason I say cares is because it's so hard to let things go when you care. "I would say love and everybody would say you're a faggot, but I'm not. We care in that locker room. My feminine side might come out once in a while, but I'm telling you, there is a lot of love in that locker room." In a team-released statement, Seau said Wednesday night, "If any offense were taken, then I certainly will be the first to apologize." Some did take offense. "Unfortunately, there are a few left in our society who do not understand the differences in people," said Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner Dean Trantalis, a longtime gay rights activist. "That comment is not only offensive, but it's a putdown for anyone who is deemed different from the rest of society. "I would hope he would find it in his heart to apologize and make others understand that in spite of the differences that people have, we all come to accept them and live with one another and not try to find fault and cast aspersions. I would hope the management and leadership of that organization would make a point to at least show their courage and disavow any association with that feeling toward the gay and lesbian community." The incident marked the second time since Seau joined the Dolphins last season that he made what could be considered an offensive comment. When describing how to slow down standout San Diego running back LaDainian Tomlinson before a game last season, Seau said, "You just befriend him. You give him couple of pieces of watermelon, load him up with some fried chicken and say, `Keep eating.'" Tomlinson, who is black, said he didn't view the comments as stereotyping or offensive. Seau, who is a close friend of Tomlinson's, apologized and said he never intended for his comments to get construed as a racial insult. Seau is considered one of the NFL's most benevolent players. Seau was voted the NFL's Man of the Year in 1994 for his charity efforts and has his own charity foundation. Copyright ? 2004, South Florida Sun-Sentinel :blink:
June 3, 200422 yr OMG stop the politically correct stupidity, he didnt mean anything bad by that, he was just talking about the love in the locker room b/w the players on the team. i dont know much about his past but if you grow up anywhere otuside of suburbia, the word faggot is used loosely to refer to homosexuals, so much so that it looses the offensive meaning of it, same as some people use the n word when talkin about a friend in a nonderogatory way. People have to start getting their heads out of their a$$es
June 3, 200422 yr I used to be bothered by it, since my brother is gay, but even some of them use it towards each other. Meh.... just brush it off and move on. Nothing serious.
June 3, 200422 yr He wasnt bashing anyone, but if youre going to be in the public eye giving speeches, you should know better than to say that.
June 3, 200422 yr My feminine side might come out once in a while, but I'm telling you, there is a lot of love in that locker room." i doubt he showed his feminine side in the locker room last year he saved it for the field but seriously, how was that a gay slur?
June 3, 200422 yr he definitely wasn't trying to bash anyone he just used the wrong word yeah he shoulda known better than that for a public speech but whatever no biggie
June 4, 200422 yr teh people that are complaining about s*** like this....... this is the same people who complained about the whole Janet Jackson thing...... wha eva happned to Freedom of Speach!!!!!! did it end 6 months ago during that Superbowl halftime show..... ehhhhhh.
June 4, 200422 yr I'm on your side Odom006 but what does freedom of speech have to do with janet jacksons boob popping out on national television? The thing is just that yeah Seau has the right to freedom of speech and that's why he's not charged or anything but as a professional that's portrayed and in the public eye, you should know better than to say fag or whatever unless you want the media on your ass.
June 4, 200422 yr its funny because people take it as an insult. what if he used "straight" instead of faggot. all of a sudden the press questions him for being a "straight basher" :thumbdown
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